A glance at the week that was
Floating gardens
Of all the crazy schemes that have been suggested
for Dublin - floating balloons over the Liffey, building a Spire of
light (oh, hold on, they did that one) - the plans for the old
Carlton Cinema site on O'Connell Street are up there with the best.
A "
Park in the Sky", 13 storeys high, will be a green
space towering over the shopping area. The top will be accessible
by funicular. In the winter we will, presumably, be able to ski
back down.
Higher voices
Three Northern Irish prists celebrated an unlikely
success this week, when they signed a €1 million record deal
on the steps of London's Westminister Cathedral. Fr Eugene O'Hagan,
his brother Fr Martin O'Hagan and Fr David Delargey will perform
under the predictable moniker of The Priests. Their contract
stipulates that they will not do anything contrary to their
religious beliefs. A support slot with Marilyn Manson, then, is
probably off the cards.
"He is that ultimate paradox: a sociable loner"- Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny on his departing nemesis, Bertie Ahern
We now know
A woman's diet can
determine the sexof a child when she becomes
pregnant, say University of Exeter researchers.
The son of an elderly British widower advertised the role of
a
drinking palfor his dad, at £7 an hour, plus
expenses. Two candidates have been successful.
Britain is getting its first disposable
nappy recycling plant.
The numbers
€2 million
Fines levied on solicitor
Michael Lynnby a disciplinary tribunal. Lynn's
whereabouts remain unknown.
€5,000
Amount awarded to a boy who, then aged 12, was
slapped on the shoulderby a nurse at Dublin's
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, for turning on and off a
bedside light.
221 million
The number of Chinese internet users, now the most numerous
web-surfers on the planet.